38 Mr. H.E. Dresser on the Birds of Southern Texas. 
Gambetta melanoleuca (Gmelin). Telltale. 
Common near San Antonio during the winter season, until 
the month of April, after which I saw none, but found several 
on Galveston Island in June. 
Gambetta flavipes (Gmelin). Yellowshank. 
At Matamoras the Yellowshanks were not common, and I 
only shot one during the two months I was there. In the 
spring of 1864 (at San Antonio) I noticed them oftener than I 
did at Matamoras, and shot several during April and early in 
May. Early in June I saw several on Galveston Island. 
Rhyacophilus solitarius (Wilson). Solitary Sandpiper. 
About the middle of August I noticed two Solitary Sand¬ 
pipers on a sandbank in the Rio Grande near Matamoras, and 
succeeded in shooting one, this being the only time I saw any 
in that neighbourhood. During the month of April 1864 I 
often found them at the small pools and on the banks of the 
small streams near San Antonio, and shot several. 
Male. Bill brownish-black; lower mandible dark green at 
the base; legs dull green; iris dark brown. 
Tringoides macularius (Linn.). Spotted Sandpiper. 
I shot one specimen in immature plumage near Matamoras 
in August 1863, and found the species abundant near San 
Antonio in September and October. 
Actiturus bartramius (Wilson). BartranPs Sandpiper, 
or Grass-Plover. 
On our journey from Brownsville to San Antonio in Sep¬ 
tember 1863 we found, on quitting the sandy regions and enter¬ 
ing into the grass-country, the Grass-Plovers very abundant. 
They do not go in flocks, but are scattered singly all over the 
country. In their habits they are shy and most difficult to 
approach, if one is on foot; but by riding or driving near them, 
I found I could always get within shot before they took to 
flight. When undisturbed they run about very swiftly, catch¬ 
ing insects amongst the grass, and they often reminded me of 
our Stone-Curlew ((Edicnemus crepitans). When disturbed they 
will squat close for a time, and then, if one walks towards them, 
they will rise suddenly and fly off uttering a clear whistle. 
